As a discipline electrical engineering has been consistent over the last five decades in its rate of development and its contribution to new frontiers of knowledge in electrical, electronic and computer engineering.

The horizon of electrical engineering has expanded continuously and there is no sign of this expansion diminishing. In recent years, notable areas of development have been the evolution of micro-chip technology; the progression of computer technology from small beginnings to the dominant role that computers have today; the evolution of large scale electric energy networks; the evolution of high efficiency solar energy converters providing an alternative to non renewable sources; the rapidly expanding capacity to transmit and process information exploiting optical fibres and satellite communications; innovative instrumentation made possible by the microprocessor; the biomedical application of sensors and advanced signal and image processing techniques; and the developments in mobile information technology.

All these applications are in accord with Australia's future in high technology and industrial innovation. Our graduates are in high demand here in Australia and overseas, and if Australia is to be successful in its attempts to capitalise on its know-how in today's technology, this demand will continue to grow.